PM Network - May 2015

20 PM NETWORK MAY 2015 WWW.PMI.ORG VOICES Project Toolkit

From the cloud to mobile devices, technology puts project management at your fingertips. But with so many tech trends to choose from, how do you pick the right tools for your team? We asked project managers:

Which technologies have had the most impact on your project team and the industry?

Seamless Workflow

Project management
software integration
is the top tech trend
impacting the future for project
managers. These ubiquitous en-
vironments are making seamless
workflow management possible.

For example, At Task, an online work management software, already integrates with popular project management products such as Microsoft SharePoint and Outlook, Atlassian JIRA and ProofHQ. When everything speaks the same language and happens in real time, you have a game-changer in how teams collaborate.

Project managers need to keep up as software continues to evolve. Hiring managers, companies and clients are increasingly expecting tech-savvy project managers.

For this reason, the ability to adapt and learn new systems and technologies quickly is a skill project managers must master to succeed in the future.” —Rachel Phillips, PMI-ACP, PMP, project manager and digital sourcing & pricing, HackerAgency, Seattle, Washington, USA

Cloud Vulnerability

Cloud computing and the security implications associated with it will alter the way IT projects are managed. With data on the cloud,

there will always be vulnerabilities. As more and more breaches occur, data owners will want more direct control over the data than they currently have. The actual, physical protection of data now falls almost exclusively on the shoulders of the companies storing the data, while legal responsibility for its protection remains with the “owning” organization. We’re likely to see additional leaps in securing data remotely.

Constant Connectivity

The evolution of cloud computing, mobile
applications and social media is changing the
way teams interact and exchange informa-
tion. These tools help spread work throughout the day
because you can answer a question or share a document
at any time, anywhere.

My team uses some cloud-based project management products, but on some projects we create a restricted Facebook group to interact with each other. It lets us manage projects in different places and at different times without worrying about firewall policies.

In my opinion, project managers need to know technical processes in order to successfully lead a team. My suggestion is to practice, practice, practice. Start with the basics of a new technology and build your knowledge over time with new features. For example, I’m currently experimenting with Arduino, an open-source platform with user-friendly hardware and software, to monitor sensors from an Internet of Things network. I plan on leveraging this experience to help my team that is working on similar technologies.” —Francesco Bellifemine, PMP, project manager, Exprivia, Molfetta, Italy